Kentucky
The Board of Pharmacy approved an emergency amendment to the pharmacy closure regulation at its Nov. 30 meeting. As an emergency regulation, once it is filed with the LRC it will be in effect immediately. The regulation changes the temporary pharmacy closure notification requirement from 5 days to 2 two days within a 14-day period or 9 days in a 30-day period and requires pharmacies to notify the board in immediately in writing of a closure meeting the threshold. Additionally, it has requirements for signage, control of prescriptions, notification of providers and post-closure claims adjudication.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Missouri
The Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) Board of Pharmacy issued a bulletin on Vaccine Provider Healthcare Assistance in response to the Board of Pharmacy received regarding if pharmacies can use non-pharmacy healthcare providers to help provide both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Nebraska
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on December 15 at noon (Central).
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) updated the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Administration – Booster – Code: 0034A — $37.25 (effective November 2, 2021). DHHS also published its Provider Bulletin 21-21 – November 2021 COVID-19 Vaccines Updates, including COVID-19 booster doses and COVID-19 vaccinations for children. For questions, contact Medicaid.
Finally in Nebraska, the COVID rates have been added and been moved from the right-hand navigation list to the main list on the Department of Health and Human Service Medicaid Provider Rates and Fee Schedules website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
North Carolina
In response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the CDC expanding the recommendation for boosters to include 16 and 17 year old, North Carolina has updated the Standing Order regarding vaccine administration.
Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has issued new guidance concerning the application for Pharmacist-Technician Ratio of 1:6 or Greater.
Finally in North Carolina, please see Information regarding the Administration of Long Acting Injectables in Medicaid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Ohio
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) shared flu communications toolkits for healthcare providers to use in promoting flu vaccination for their patients during the 2021 – 2022 flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a NIVW digital toolkit featuring social media language and graphics, sample newsletter language, and printable resources. ODH posted a Flu Communications Toolkit that offers social media language and graphics and sample newsletter language around the importance of flu shots, in addition to flu and COVID-19 shots, as the best defense. Healthcare providers can monitor flu activity in Ohio, including county-level data, on the ODH Ohio Flu Activity webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
South Carolina
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will increase the reimbursement rates for the services and supplies related to: Incontinence Supplies, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services. These changes will be reflected on the SCDHHS website by Jan. 1, 2022.
Providers with questions regarding this bulletin should contact the SCDHHS Provider Service Center at (888) 289-0709. The Provider Service Center's hours of operations are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday
Also in South Carolina, the Department of Insurance has provided a complaint form for pharmacies or interested parties to file complaints with the South Carolina Department of Insurance relating to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) services. SC law requires pharmacies to make reasonable efforts to exhaust a PBM's internal appeal requirements prior to filing a complaint with the SCDOI. A copy of the appeal outcome must accompany the complaint submission.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) semi-annual update of the Medicaid preferred drug list will occur on January 27, 2022. HHSC made the PDL changes based on recommendations made at the July and November 2021 Texas Drug Utilization Review Board meetings. Drug list decisions from those meetings are available.
Also in Texas, HHSC next Texas Vaccine Providers Webinar will be on Tuesday, December 14th at Noon Central. Register here.
Finally in Texas, in response to a request from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) again temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.33(c)(1)(B)(iii) to have in-person contact for patient counseling in order to allow patient counseling to be performed by telephonic consultation. This remains in effect until March 31, 2022, or until the March 13, 2020, disaster declaration is lifted or expires, whichever is earlier.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Vermont
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulations has issued draft guidance for commercial insurance coverage of COVID-19 at-home rapid antigen testing. The Department contemplates requiring commercial health insurers to cover at-home rapid antigen testing listed as “preferred” by Vermont Medicaid without member cost sharing. Under the draft emergency rule, the tests would be fully covered when prescribed, in which case the claim would process exactly like any other prescription medication, or if the member submits a claim form. This guidance, once finalized, will be effective December 1, 2021.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
West Virginia
The Legislative Rule Making Review Committee adopted the PBM rule as currently written without any debate. The rule, based on the passage of HB 2263 or 2021, must now receive final approval by the Legislature during the 2022 session.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Wisconsin
This week Governor Tony Evers (D) signed into law three pro-pharmacy bills. In specific the three bills are the Pharmacist Provider Status – providing pharmacist’s reimbursement for any clinical care services covered under the Medicaid program (SB 255), Pharmacy Technician Registration- establishing the registration of pharmacy technicians (SB 300) and Remote Dispensing Sites (SB 308) which licenses these sites and provides more flexibilities for remote supervision of site pharmacists. These laws will be in effect as the supporting regulations are finalized in 2022.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Alabama
As Alabama Medicaid continues to monitor the COVID-19 national emergency in Alabama, Medicaid is adding procedure codes for coverage. Providers may submit claims for dates of service on or after the effective dates for each procedure code as listed here. Providers may find the reimbursement rates for the COVID-19 testing procedure codes on Medicaid’s website at www.Medicaid.Alabama.gov by selecting Fee Schedules under the Providers tab.
Also in Alabama, effective January 1, 2020, all newly registered technicians are required to complete a Board approved training program within six (6) months of the registration. Technicians with Board approved training completed, PTCB or CPhT certifications, or registered prior to January 1, 2020, will be reflected as compliant with the training requirement on the technicians’ Board of Pharmacy website profile.
To view this data:
- Go to albop.com
- Click Online Services
- Choose “Individual Verification” from the dropdown menu
- Input the technician registration number or name of the technician and enter the verification code displayed and click Search
- Identify the technician and choose the Print option to view the full license details including training information for technicians.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Alaska
The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development cut the initial registration and biennial renewal fees for the prescription drug monitoring program-controlled substance prescription database to $0 effective December 23, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) is convening a Special Session of the Legislature on Tuesday, December 6th to deal with income tax reform and repeal of the Insulin Rebate law (Act 1104/HB 1709).
Also in Arkansas, the Department of Health final rules amending the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to provide for an alternate method of reporting and allow the department to request prescription copies from dispensers for evaluation go into effect on December 3, 2021.
Finally in Arkansas. The Division of Medical Services adopted a rule revising the rate methodology and reimbursement rates for covered long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) that went into effect on December 1, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for December has been posted. Below is an outline of this month’s updates. As a reminder, Medi-Cal Rx is schedule to be implemented effective January 1, 2021.
- Changes to the Contract Drugs List (CDL), Effective December 1, 2021
- Changes to the Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Over the Counter Drugs, Effective December 1, 2021
- Changes to the Family PACT Pharmacy Formulary, Effective December 1, 2021
- Medi-Cal Rx Medical Supplies Updates
- Reimbursement for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Claims
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual
- Adult Vaccination Administration Fee: Pharmacy Claims and Reimbursement
- Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost (MAIC) 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice
- 45-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice
- Contract Drugs List (CDL) Flyer
- Medi-Cal Rx Provider Training Details
- Registering Multiple NPIs in UAC
- UAC Registration and Sign-In Troubleshooting
- UAC Registration Reminders and Helpful Tips
- Introducing the Medi-Cal Rx Education and Outreach Team
- Prescriber Training Checklist
- Pharmacy Training Checklist
Also in California, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy in support of the proposed rule revising 16 CCR §1746.4 pertaining to requirements for notification to patients’ primary care provider following vaccine administration. In modifying the notification provisions of the rule to apply only when requested by a patient, the proposed rule change would reduce the administrative burden of preparing and forwarding potentially redundant information that is not always needed or desired by every primary care provider, especially considering that pharmacies also report administered vaccines to the California Immunization Registry. Considering pharmacist and pharmacy workload demands having amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating unnecessary administrative requirements free up pharmacy personnel to focus on meeting public demand for increased pharmacy services.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
The Department of Regulatory agencies (DORA) announced that the Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board, and Board of Nursing will hold a virtual Joint Stakeholder Meeting on December 20th seeking input on whether to develop a new statewide protocol for Statin Therapy within the scope of Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements, as allowed per section 12-280-601(1), C.R.S., and Rule 17.00.00. This proposed protocol would allow pharmacists to provide evidence-based health-care services to increase access to a well-established medical standard of care. Written comments must be submitted by December 17, 2021. Oral comments will be taken from participants who are present via webinar.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis joined by Florida Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson to sign legislation that will protect Floridians from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and protect parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for students. The bills were passed through a Special Session of the Florida Legislature and are effective upon the Governor’s signature. The legislation signed today is the strongest anti-mandate action taken by any state in the nation. Read about the legislation HERE.
Also in Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller issued the following statement in support of Florida’s challenge against the Biden Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule mandating that health care workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine:
“The recent CMS rule issued by Biden Administration will not only damage our stretched health care industry but impact our most vulnerable and their ability to receive the health care they need,” said Secretary Simone Marstiller. “Tying Medicare and Medicaid funding to a vaccination mandate – funding that pays for medical care for elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals – is a blatant overreach of power that must be challenged. Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Moody, Florida is doing just that, to protect Florida jobs, ensure access to care, and empower individuals in making personal health care decisions for themselves and their families.”
Finally in Florida, the Florida HIE will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 7th at 12:00pm EST. Learn about how the Encounter Notification Service (ENS) provides benefits to providers and patients across Florida. You may register here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Iowa
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted the following, including new clinical materials related to recent ACIP recommendations for a COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age:
- NEW Vaccine Information Brief (11.19.21)
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Orders for Administering Vaccine to Persons 5 through 11 Years of Age
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Preparation and Administration Summary form (Persons 5 through 11 Years of Age)
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Handling Summary (5 through 11 years of age)
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Handling labels (5 through 11 years of age)
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Beyond Use Date guidance and labels (5 through 11 years of age)
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Transporting Vaccine for Vaccination Clinics Held at Satellite, Temporary or Off-Site Locations (5 through 11 years of age)
Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy has posted the meeting minutes from the August 31, 2021 meeting.
Finally in Iowa, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy concerning ARC 6012C related to Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements and recommended the Board consider including physician assistants in the practitioner definition to include all licensed professionals duly authorized to prescribe to ensure all relevant pharmacy collaborations with prescribers can be leveraged to extend and improve care.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Louisiana
The Department of Health (LDH) held its monthly COVID-19 Vaccine Partners virtual webinar providing the latest statistics on vaccines administered, LDH also did a one-year look-back highlighting equitable distribution across the state’s nine healthcare regions. More information is available at La.Immunization@La.gov.
Also in Louisiana, in addition to electing new officers at the November 17th Board meeting, the board approved to move forward on adopting fee increases Regulatory Proposal 2021-G. They also discussed proposed New PPM.I.A.35, Emergency Prescriptions for Durable Medical Equipment (Draft #1) State of Emergency authorizing pharmacists to dispense emergency prescriptions of prescribed medications during a state of emergency. Finally, they approved Proposed Revision of PPM.I.D.28 ~ COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Guidance for Licensees re PREP Act Declaration by HHS (Draft #1), which is a guidance document.
Finally in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy scheduled an in-person Public Hearing on December 28, 2021, on a proposed rule on medication administration that would make permanent pharmacy technicians and interns administering immunizations. Pharmacies are encouraged to email written supportive comments to the Board in advance of the hearing. info@pharmacy.la.gov
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maine
The Notice of Agency Rulemaking Proposal regarding Joint Rule Between the Maine Board of Pharmacy and Maine Board of Nursing on Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDT) has been posted to the Maine Board of Pharmacy website. The comment deadline is January 3, 2022, at 5:00 pm. EST. Written comments may be sent to Geraldine.L.Betts@maine.gov using the subject line: CDT Proposed Rule Comment.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Mississippi
Join MPhA for a virtual Last Chance Seminar! This seminar will offer two (2) live CE hours. These hours satisfy the opioid/drugs of abuse required by the Board of Pharmacy. December 12, 2021, 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Click here to register.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
New York
The Board of Pharmacy met this week. The Executive Secretary Dina Jazrawi reported that the Board is continuing to accept applications to fill the two openings for registered pharmacy technicians to serve on the Board. Individuals must be registered and working in an Article 28 facility. In addition, there is still a pharmacist opening for a Downstate Office of Professional Discipline.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Ohio
Dr. John M. Weigand, a central Ohio physician who has served as a leader in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, has been appointed Medical Director at the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Aging. Since early in the pandemic, Dr. Weigand has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP) and as Medical Director of the Post-Acute Regional Rapid Testing (PARRT) partnership.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Oregon
The Board of Pharmacy adopted a temporary rule, effective November 19 through May 17, 2022, requiring pharmacies to post accurate hours. Accurate pharmacy operating hours must be available to patients and prescribers so they can seek alternate sources of prescription medication when a pharmacy is closed.
Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy meeting will meet on December 8-9. The agenda has been posted and updated materials will be available on the board’s website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Pennsylvania
The Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) has issued a Bulletin with updates to the Statewide Preferred Drug List clarifying when an MCO can require prior authorization for certain drugs. The PACE Prescription Drug Program has also issued a Bulletin clarifying the claims submission code for “other coverage” claims. The Bulletin applies to all prescription programs administered by PACE.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
South Carolina
The Department of Health and Environmental Control released a statement earlier today regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. DHEC is closely monitoring the variant and proactively preparing for any potential threats posed. See their full statement here, along with various resources and tracking data.
Also in South Carolina, the Centers for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the enrollment application fee amount for calendar year 2022 will be $631. This fee is required with any applicable Healthy Connections Medicaid provider enrollment application. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will collect the application fee before executing a provider agreement. The fee applies to initial enrollment, reactivation, revalidation, or addition of a new practice location. SCDHHS has contracted with the SC.gov Enterprise Payment System to facilitate collection of the application fee. Payments may be made by debit, credit, or e-check. Paper checks will not be accepted. More information on payment options can be found by visiting www.scdhhs.gov/provider and selecting “Online Application Fee Payment.” The provider enrollment application fee is only applicable to providers CMS has identified as institutional providers. Providers who are enrolled in or have already paid the application fee to Medicare and/or another state’s Medicaid agency or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the same enrollment location jurisdiction.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.